Hosea 3:5. "Afterward shall the children of Israel return, and seek the Lord their God, and David their king; and shall fear the Lord and his goodness in the latter days." RETURN. You went away thinking there was much you were missing - For some reason you rejected God's grace and His blessing. No matter how far into sin you may have gone - There is a way back to God who knows what you have done And waits for you to return from the dark paths of sin; His door is open wide that you may go in.
There is a way back to God when in true-hearted contrition, We turn away from sin and come in honest confession To Him who is waiting with arms outstretched and wide To receive us with forgiveness and draw us to His side. So, the Valley of Trouble then becomes a Door of Hope And now with life's present difficulties we are able to cope.
Perhaps there are times when as children we stray, And later stop to wonder why we ever went away. With a sense of deep guilt, we wonder what to do After failing in the trust given, are we really through? The answer is "No," we can repent and return, And the lessons from failure we finally learn.
We can return in faith knowing God our Father is there To accept us and forgive us when our souls we bare Before His all-knowing eyes, and our sins we confess - He can in turn forgive and our lives He can bless. The fear of the Lord and His goodness He shows - To the one who returns and fellowship again he knows.
"Forgiving God: while I know the blessing of fellowship with Thee, I also know there are times when I fail Thee and do not represent Thee well before those who look on. I confess the failure and neglect. In returning I find rest. I thank Thee in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen."
Hosea 3:5. “Afterward shall the children of Israel return, and seek the Lord their God, and David their king; and shall fear the Lord and His goodness in the latter days.” GOD IS NOT FINISHED. It’s not over yet! Things around may seem hopeless and so ungodly that there is no way to return. But it’s not over till it’s over! God has His plans that haven’t been completed. It seems like the total depravity of the world, the nation, the church itself has taken over and there is no way to stop the downward slide. But God has His plans that haven’t been completed. The lifestyle of many people seems to be so like that of dissatisfied Gomer who was chasing after lovers and didn’t even know her “first husband” was the one keeping her alive. She had so much and lost it all. But God has His plans that haven’t been completed. There she was, “for sale” and worth so little – half the price of a slave. Just like so many today who have so little sense of self-worth. They have given themselves to be sold for fleeting pleasure or fame; for a careless moment of passion; for something that looks good but is only a fake. How can such things go on? God has His plans that haven’t been completed.
It was in God’s plans to restore that which He took not away. It was in God’s plans to make Him to be sin for us who knew no sin. It was in God’s plans to use the weak and despised to confound the mighty. It was in God’s plan to have a people for His name. It was in God’s plans to bring many sons to glory. It was in God’s plans to show the riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
In spite of all the sinful waywardness; the blatant willfulness; the self-centered covetousness – God is still in the process of carrying out His plans to completion. That is why we can maintain a positive outlook on the work God has given us to do. We can still press ahead in full confidence that His word is still the sanctifying force of our generation the same as in the past. He has said it, and He will do it. The Holy Spirit is still in the believers and in the church carrying on the work He was given to do through us. The Father and the Son are still making their abode with us. The day of grace isn’t over yet; the church is still in the process of being built and the gates of hell shall never prevail against it.
“O God of history: the story looks dark if I only look around. But I can see ahead and there is still light in the world. I look farther and can see bright light farther on. I want to keep my spiritual eyesight so please help me to not get overly concerned with all the disasters going on around me. Give me the courage to give off some reflected light. In the name of Him who is the Light of the world. Amen.”